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Spartan Project Work Taking Shape

(By Andy Hill - Reprinted with permission of the Wakefield News/Bessemer Pick & Axe). Posted January 21, 2011

"We're hoping for some positive changes by Memorial weekend or for sure 4th of July," said Denise Stephens, who updated the Bessemer City Council on the Spartan Project Monday [January 17, 2011].

The Spartan Project is a community development effort provided through Michigan State University. The university offered a vision for Bessemer's appearance, using local input. Final findings were presented in May.

The effort is continuing at the local level.

Stephens said the Downtown Development Authority is considering funding several projects including new benches and trash receptacles downtown, a crosswalk project and signing.

The city hall is also receiving attention. The group proposes a new sign, to replace the one taken down during the recent tuck-pointing project.

An interpretive sign, giving a brief history of the building, also is being considered, as are new steps, landscaping and a new flagpole location.

Banners (a total of 50 at a cost of about $9,000) are proposed for poles on U.S. 2 and Sophie Street.

Out of concern for eye appeal, the group also hopes to plant some trees along U.S. 2 to "soften the U.S. 2 corridor," she said.

Blayne Kern, a member [president] of the DDA, said his organization is supportive. "We're very impressed with what they came up with," he said. Kern said the DDA has focused its efforts on blight remediation, but is pleased to shift gears. "It's time to do something to spruce things up," he said.

The council passed a unanimous resolution of support for the work done thus far.

Potential Projects to be Presented to DDA

Posted January 8, 2011

The Spartan Project Committee met on January 5, 2011, to formalize the first round of potential projects for presentation to the DDA on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. in the DDA room at City Hall.

Projects are in the Minor and Medium categories (as defined below) and include decorative crosswalks; new benches, flowerpots, and trash containers; landscaping at the intersections of U.S. 2 and Sophie Street; and trees planted at the entrance corridors along U.S. 2.

If approved, projects will be begin in the Spring.

Bessemer's Work Begins! (By Susan Zakula)

Posted October 2, 2010

The Bessemer Spartan Project Committee has met and has rolled up their sleeves to work. The committee divided into three smaller teams, each coming up with four project plans to beautify Bessemer. The highlights include a park in the downtown area, benches and flowers to adorn Sophie Street, lots of green landscaping along the Route 2 corridor, and some signage to point out the area’s businesses and attractions. The work continues on renewing street signs and an impressive flag pole is to be mounted on top of Bessemer’s beautiful bluff overlooking the town. And these are just a few of the highlights! More to come! It is hoped that these plans will be submitted to Bessemer’s DDA at the November meeting.

There is still room for more workers. If you are interested or just have more ideas to share, please contact Denise Stephens at vanstep@hotmail.com. The next workers' meeting is October 21 at 6pm in the DDA office at Bessemer City Hall.

Phase II of Spartan Project Begins

Posted September 25, 2010

Phase II of the Spartan Project begins with a meeting on Monday, September 27, 2010, at 6:15 p.m., in the DDA Office (lower level at City Hall). The public is encouraged to attend and join one of our groups.

The public was recently asked for their suggestions on the types of projects to undertake (see related story below). Over 60 suggestions were received. This meeting will involve attendees breaking up into groups to evaluate these suggestions. Projects will be divided into the following groups:

Minor: Projects/activities that can be accomplished in 3-6 months for less than $1,500;

Medium: Projects/activities that can be accomplished in 7-12 months for up to $5,000; and

Major: Projects/activities that can be accomplished in 12-36 months over $5,000.

Each group will establish their four major priorities no later than November 1, 2010. Outline of priorities will include:

• Clearly stated project/activity
• Preliminary costs
• Steps Necessary to accomplish
• How it will be accomplished
• Timeline
• Possible funding source(s)
• Maintenance going forward, if appropriate

Bessemer’s DDA will then be presented with all 12 proposals.

Once a project has been started, it would be our goal to complete that specific project in the timeframe given, i.e. a minor project once started should be completed in 3-6 months or less. Our intent is to see progress in the summer of 2011.

Spartan Project Committee Asks for Your Input

Posted September 3, 2010

Bessemer's Spartan Project Committee recently hosted an informal meeting to discuss plans to continue the momentum generated over the past 10 months. Many seeds have been planted through the process and now it's time to establish priorities and timelines, determine projects versus activities, and bring to fruition the potential that can come from working together.

The first step, based on the consensus of those in attendance, was to obtain input for anyone interested in a better Bessemer. In that regard, you will see a green and white identifiable comments jar at the following locations:

Abelman's Clothing, Gogebic Range Bank, Jackson's LaPanetteria, BP Gas Station, Bessemer City Hall and Library, Gogebic County Federal Credit Union, Leather and Gift Shop, Dairy Queen, Kinda Kountry Kafe, Fairview Housing Office, Hillcrest Apartment Community Room, Steiger's Home Center, Mill Street Gardens, and St. Vincent DePaul Store.

The jars will be at these locations from September 1 through 20. Everyone's comments are invited to help develop Bessemer's future direction.

Final Project Spartan Meeting a Huge Success

Posted May 22, 2010

Over 80 people attended the final in a series of three Small Town Design Initiative (STDI) meetings held on Thursday, May 20, at the Washington Elementary School.

The evening began at 5:30 p.m. with a historical walking tour of downtown. Approximately 35 individuals heard local historian Larry Peterson discuss the significance of several of the more prominent buildings along Main Street and U.S. 2. So that everyone could better visualize the present with the past, Mr. Peterson provided everyone a handout containing side-by-side pictures of the buildings as they look today compared to what the area looked like circa the 1940s. (Patrick and Terri Trigiano created a slide presentation of the handout which can be viewed here)
While this was going on, Chef Rocky Rockovitis and son John fired up the grill with great tasting burgers and brats. We thank Rocky and John and servers Ann Brown and Terri Trigiano for feeding the masses.

No event is complete without a performance from Marty's Goldenaires. Marty's graciously agreed to entertain the audience before the meeting started. Playing many of their old favorites, no one was disappointed.

And then it was time for the main event. Warren Rauhe, from Michigan State University's School of Planning, Design and Construction, provided those in attendance with a slideshow of enhanced images of Bessemer's downtown and U.S. 2 corridors.

Using hundreds of photographs taken during his first visit in November and public input gathered from the previous two meetings, Dr. Rauhe and his team developed digitally enhanced images comparing the current project areas to what it could look like in the future. The slideshow containing Dr. Rauhe's before and after images will be available as soon as we receive it.